Electric-switch mechanism



July [21, 1925. 1,546,856

H. J. MOREY ET AL ELECTRI C SWITCH MECHANISM Eiled May 14, 1921 4 1 "'H Y w 26 WINK/EMU v A TTORNEYS Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HARRY a. Moneynn non N. THOMPSON, OF sYnAons E, YORK, assrenons "re PASS & SEYMOUR Inc, or SOLVAY, NEW YORK, A ooaronnrron or new Yon-K.

ELECTRIG-SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed May 14, 1921. Serial No. 469,512.

To eZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, H RRY J. MOREY and DON N. THoMrsoN, citizens of the United States, and residents of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Electric-Switch Mechanism, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches and has for its object a particularly simple, efiicientand durable switch mechanism more especially adapted to key switches, such as those used in lamp sockets. l

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the lamp socket provided with this invention.

Figure 2 is a face View of the lower section of the base and parts carried thereby. Figure 3 is a face view of the upper section of the base, the switch contacts which are carried by the lower section of the base and which project into the upper section, being shown in section.

Figure l is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 1, illustrating the position of the switch member and the cam when the cam is given a quarter turn in either direction from the position shown in Figure 1.

This switch mechanism comprises a shift able switch member, and a movable cam for shifting said member, the canrhaving reversely inclined faces with which the shiftable member is engaged, these faces being arranged adjacent each other and with a high point of one face in linewit-h the low point of the adjacent face, wlth respect to the direction of movement of the cam, whereby upon small movement of the earn the low point of one face shifts out of engagement with the switch membenandthe high point of the adjacent face shifts into engagement therewith.

Preferably, the cam is rotatable and consists ofa cylinder having converging or inclined faces on diametrically opposite sides of its intermediate portions and similar but reversely arranged inclined faces on other opposite sides between the former faces, the

high point or portions of such. face being arranged in alinement circumferentially of the cam with the low points of the adjacent faces, whereby the switch member is shifted upon a small turn of the cam in either direction, as a quarter turn, when there are four faces on the cam.

The lamp socket here illustrated comprises a base of insulation including two sections 1, 2, which enclose a recess 3, in which the mechanism is located, an outer lamp terminal 4, and a central lamp terminal 5 mounted on the section 2 and electrically connected to the switch contacts 6, 7, in the recess 3 in any suitable manner.

The construction of the lamp socket and the electrical connections between the 0011- tacts 6, 7, and the lamp terminals a, 5, form no part of this invention.

8 designates the shiftable member, whi'cl'i is reciprocally slidable in the portion of the recess 3 in the section 1 to carry arms or contacts thereof into and out of position to bridge the space between the contacts 6, 7. This form of switch member per se forms no part of this invention. 1

9 is the cam which is a rotatable cylinder journalled in the portion of the recess 3 in the lower section or block 2 and having converging faces 10 on diametrically opposite sides thereof and reversely converging faces 11 on other diametrically opposite sides thereof between the faces 10, the faces 10, 11 meeting at the corners 12.

The switch member 8 is substantially U- shaped and of resilient metal and has a follower 13 pressing against one of the faces 10, 11, and is tensioned by comparison between the cam and the upper wall of the recess 3. The high portions or points 14 of the faces 10 are arranged in line with the low points 15 of the faces 11 in the direction circumferentially of the cam or in the direction of movement of the cam and likewise the high points 16 of the faces 11 arein line with the low points 17 of the faces 10.

The full or cylindrical ends of the cam 9 are seated or journalled in semi-cylindrical bearings 18 at the bottom of the portionof the recess 3 in the lower section or block 2, and the end faces of the cam thrust against the end walls 19 of such recess. The cam 9 is rotated by the key shaft 20 set in a groove 21 in the upper face of the lower section or block, which groove is arranged coaxially with the axis of the bearing faces 18; and the key shaft is connected to one end of the cam by interlocking means, as a tongue 22 at the end of the shaft which fits into a diametrically extending groove or slot 23 in the opposing end of the cam, this tongue being of greater width than the groove, so as to prevent axial removal of the shaft. A suitable handle 24: of insulation is mounted on the outer end of the'key shaft 20. Also a strip 25 extends across the portion of the shaft in the groove and the switch member 8 slides on the strip.

In assembling, the cam is dropped into the seats or bearings 18 in the section 2 and the key shaft 20 laid in the groove 21, the tongue 22 being slidable sidewise or radially into the slot 23 at the end of the cam. The upper block 1, with the switch member 8 therein, is placed on the block 2 and secured thereto by screws which extend through holes 26, these screws threading into the lamp terminals or parts associated therewith in the usual manner.

In operation, upon a quarter turn of the cam 9 in either direction, the follower of the switch member 8 rides from the low point of one of the faces 10 to the high point of one'of the faces 11, and then the follower slides down the faces 11 to the low point thereof, thereby moving the switch member to off position from the position shown in Figure 1, to that shown in Figure 4.

Now, upon a quarter turn in either direction, the follower rides from the low point of the face 11 to the high point of the face 10 and slides down the face 10 to the low point thereof shifting the switch to on position, Figure 1.

lVhat we claim is:

1. In a switch, a body comprising a block of insulation having a recess, and a groove leading from one end of the recess, the recess having semi-cylindrical bearing faces at its bottom and the groove being arranged coaxially with such bearing faces, and switch mechanism comprising a rotary cylindrical cam set in the recess and journalled on said faces, the cam having a transverse slot at one end, and a key shaft lying in the groove and having a tongue at its end for entering the slot to couple the shaft and cam together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a switch, a body comprising a block of insulation having a recess and a groove leading from one end of the recess, the recess having part cylindrical bearing faces on its bottom and the groove being arranged coaxially with such bearing faces, switch mechanism including a rotary member arranged in the recess and being of substantially the same length as the recess whereby said member has a bearing on said bearing faces and also thrusts against the walls of the recess, a key shaft lying in the groove, the key shaft and said member having coacting means arranged to interlock upon a sidewise movement of the shaft into the groove whereby rotary movement of the shaft is transferred to said member and a means overlying the block and covering the recess and the groove.

3. In a switch, a body comprising a block of insulation having a recess, and a groove leading from one end of the recess, the recess having semi-cylindrical bearing faces at its bottom and the groove being arranged coaxially with such bearing faces, and switch mechanism comprising a rotary cylindrical cam set in the recess and journalled on said faces, the cam having a transverse slot at one end and a key shaft lying in the groove and having a tongue at its end for entering the slot to couple the shaft and cam together, said tongue being of greater width than the groove whereby axial displacement of the shaft is prevented, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a switch, a body of insulation including upper and lower sections enclosing a recess formed partly in both sections, the portion of the recess in the lower section being formed with semi-cylindrical bearing faces at its bottom, the lower section being also formed with a groove in its face opposed to the upper section, the groove being arranged coaxially with the bearing faces at the bottom of the recess, a cylindrical cam journalled in the portion of the recess in the lower section, a key shaft lying in the groove and having means for interlocking with the cam to couple the cam and shaft together, said means being of greater width than the groove, whereby axial displacement of the shaft is prevented, and a shiftable switch member in the portion of the recess in the upper section, said switch member having a follower engaging the cam, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a switch, a body of insulation including upper and lower sections enclosing a recess formed partly in both sections, the portion of the recess in the lower section beformed with semi-cylindrical bearing faces at its bottom, the lower section being also formed with a groove in its face 0pposed to the upper section, the groove being arranged coaxially with the bearing faces at the bottom of the recess, a cylindrical cam journalled in the portion of the recess in the lower section, a key shaft lying in the groove and having means for interlocking with the cam to couple the cam and shaft together, said means being of greater width than the groove, whereby axial displacement of the shaft is prevented, the cam also having converging inclined faces extending lengthwise of its intermediate portion between its cylindrical ends and located on diametrically opposite sides of the cam and reversely inclined faces on other diametrically opposite sides of the cam between the former faces, and a shiftalole switch member in the portion of the recess in the upper section, said member having a follower for engaging the faces of the cam,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names at Solvay, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 6th day of May, 1921.

HARRY J. MOREY. DON N. THOMPSON 

